I’m friends with a married couple who invited both myself and some friends over to their place to experience the art of ‘hot pot.’ Not sure what i’m talking about? Keep reading to discover what you’ve been missing.

What is a Hot Pot Party?

Who does such a thing?

Well, let me tell you. So my good friend Danny owns a local tree company (treeserviceshenderson.com) and happened to meet his current wife while removing a tree from her yard. His wife also happens to be a Chinese born woman who is exceptional at cooking. They both decided it would be a good idea to expose my friends and myself to a traditional Chinese meal in a traditional Chinese style setting.

In response the second question I posed above, everybody’s doing it, so you should too!

Japan is a country famous for its beautiful culture and ancient customs. Wherever there is a rich culture, rich food is sure to follow.

In approximately 300 B.C., China introduced the Japanese to the most basic ingredient in Asian cuisine: rice. Soon after, the Chinese brought the Japanese chopsticks, soy sauce, and tofu. Today, the Japanese consume many of the foods they were eating hundreds of years ago. Although some Japanese meals have been heavily influenced by Chinese culture, the Japanese always have a way making it into their own.

I’ve had the pleasure of meeting a wide variety of people here in Las Vegas. A lot of them have been at world class restaurants enjoying exceptional meals. One of the best conversations I had was at Oyshi Sushi with a gentlemen by the name of Mikhail who owns a local tree pruning and removal company, (lasvegasbesttreeservice.com). I was relatively new to sushi, but Mikhail was savvy enough to give me the crash course in sushi. That conversation actually sparked the idea for this blog.

Here are just a few examples of popular meals you’ll see in Japanese cuisine.

• Sushi
• Ramen
• Miso Soup
• Gyoza

All of these dishes are delicious, but you don’t have to cross the Pacific Ocean to get a taste of the world’s best Japanese cuisine. Las Vegas is so much closer.

Anyone visiting Korea will find a wealth of unique and delicious dishes. Rice continues to be a staple of the Korean diet with meals being rounded out by a variety of vegetables, meat and fish. Of course it isn’t necessary to visit Korea to sample its flavorful fare. There are many local restaurants specializing in the distinct spicy flavor of Korean cuisine.

The number of side dishes included in a Korean meal was traditionally dependent on the class of people who were eating. Not including rice and soup, a high-ranking family might have up to twelve side dishes, while a lower class family might have three.

At a traditional Korean meal, all the dishes are served at the same time and are shared, except the rice and soup. Chopsticks are the main utensils, with spoons used for soup. Unlike Japanese or Chinese chopsticks, Korean chopsticks are thin and made of metal. Table settings follow formal rules that change depending on what main dish is served.

Authentic food representing all eight cultural regions of China is widely available in the Las Vegas area, not only on the strip, but all around the town. With its 5,000 years of history, Chinese cuisine is intertwined with its people and terrain. The products used in their dishes and the methods used to cook them strongly reflect the regions from which they came.

Common to most Chinese cuisine is the absence of dairy, except perhaps for eggs, and a reliance on noodles, rice, Asian vegetables and seafood. Spices and sauces create the distinct flavors, and many of the dishes are cooked in a wok or other vessel that allows the ingredients to cook quickly at high heat to maximize taste and retain their character.

The Chinese principles of harmony and balance are reflected in their cuisine, which combines textures, colors, and the surroundings to please all the senses. Meals are often served family style.